Capital Punishment: The Legend of Frank Howard | Forgotten Legends Ep. 3
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 17 ส.ค. 2023
- Baseball has had many players who possess unbelievable power, power that can launch a ball over 500 feet. One of these players played in America's capitol. That player was none other than the Capitol Punisher, Frank Howard.
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Frank passed away today, October 30th, 2023. Many of the comments on this video show not just how great of baseball player he was, but how great of a man he was. I hope this video helps showcase his career and pay tribute to a wonderful human being. May he rest in peace.
Collected autographs years ago at old yankee stadium....the 3 nicest Guys were ,Mel stottlemyer, Frank Howard and Ralph Houk...,,,all 3 R.I.P.
Hondo remains among the most popular athletes (of any sport) in Washington history. A genuinely nice guy to boot; I've seen him on the D.C. Metrorail riding home to Virginia after Nationals games. Glad he got to see MLB not only return to D.C., but win a World Series.
I’m 61 and I never heard of him. I’ve been reading about him and am sorry I missed his career. What a good person.
This man is a true gentleman. I have talked with Frank Howard on numerous occasions. 😊
I was stationed at Bolling AFB from the 1968 to 1971. The Washington Senators had a special price for active duty personnel. Because of that and the close proximity to the stadium myself and other airman would attend almost all there home games. Because there were plenty of empty seats we could see the painted seats that marked were Frank Howard had hit a homer. Many of those painted seats were in places no other human had ever hit before. It seemed like almost every game we went to he hit a monstrous homer. A memory I always tell my baseball friends.
He could sure hit the cover off the ball. Thank you for your service, and thank you for watching.
I hear you on that.Every summer my pops union would have a youth trip up to muni to watch a ballgame. One year the Sens came to town. With Frank on the roster. A 70,000 plus capacity venue with less than 5 grand in the stands. Well Frank hits a popup. The higher it goes the farther it travels. Yeah just another dinger.
When Frank Howard was a coach (and then manager) of the New York Mets, I got to meet him at Lee Mazzilli's baseball camp.. He was only supposed to be there one day, but came out all 3 days of the all star break! Really nice guy!
That’s awesome. Thank you for sharing, and thanks for watching.
Yeah, I met him years ago at a charity event. Very nice dude and full of interesting stories. Told one about how Ted Williams gave him some grief about not taking enough pitches.
that's awesome!
@@tommyfu9271 Yeah. I met alot of big leaguers past and present(at the time) at that camp. Frank Howard was one of several who made sure to spend some time with every group of kids at the camp.
My dad used to work at Turnpike Stadium right after the Rangers moved in, and he got to see batting practice every day. He described Howard's power as "unfathomable".
Rest in Peace, Frank Howard
I met Frank at Fenway Park when he was coaching with the Mariners and he was one of the nicest guys I ever met.
I saw Howard play for the Senators. I met him at an autograph session and remarked about the white seats in the upper deck where his many home runs landed. He smiled and said, “Yeah and the red seats are my strikeouts.” I also told him when he swung the bet, we could feel the breeze it made.
If this guy played in the cookie cutter parks of the late 70's, he would have 500 homers easily. He played in some massive parks back in his day that todays players would struggle to hit one out in.
He didn't need small parks!
Imagine him hitting juiced balls like today's players.
@@GeraldM_inNCYikes!
Very good point...
70 + home runs
1960's Cleveland Indians fan here.
--- I saw Frank Howard hit the longest Home Run I had ever seen, later matched by Mark McGuire.
--- In the second game of a Double-Header against the Tribe, they INTENTIONALLY WALKED Howard, with a man on first.
(1) I was a boy when Frank Howard played for the Senators. I have never heard the nick name "Capital Punisher." Back then everybody called Frank "HONDO." (2) The 1969 AL Home Run Race was one of the best ever, finishing as follows: Reggie Jackson, 47; Frank Howard, 48; and Harmon Killebrew, 49, with Harmon hitting a home run on the very last day of the season to win the title.
I'm old enough to remember Frank Howard when he played for my hometown Dodgers. I have always liked and respected the man, truly a great player and a gentleman.
I watched you play in Washington. I was a big fan. We lost you today you will never be forgotten ❤⚾
I saw him hit one into the last row of the bleachers in dead center field in the REAL Yankee Stadium, the closest anyone ever came to hitting one out. Close to 550 ft. It was 463 ft just to the center field wall. Nowadays someone hits it 450 and they make him a saint. That wouldn't even make the warning track back then.
I remember Frank did a Nestle Quik commercial where he hit a ball out of sight (my recollection) and because of that, it became my drink of choice for 50 years and still going!
Frank Howard was huge! You can practically see the earth shake when he rounded the bases. He crushed the ball.
Hawk Harrelson claimed that Frank Howard was the strongest baseball player he ever saw - by a mile. I can remember my dad talking about how outstanding Frank was as a Buckeye basketball player. Truly a great athlete.
Best FH statement: "How can you pound that lumber tomorrow if you don't pound that Budweiser tonight?" Priceless. He hit the ball HARD!
Best FH comment: "How can you pound that baseball tomorrow if you don't pound that Budweiser tonight?" RIP guy. You were the standout guy on all those bad Senator teams of my youth. You are missed.
I saw Frank when He played for the Rapid City Chiefs of the Basin League. I saw Him play in Sioux Park Stadium in Rapid City. One night Frank hit a homerun over the light tower in center field. I was sitting in a tree down the right field line. I'll never forget it.
In the 1960s, I was probably the biggest Senators and Frank Howard fan ever. I'd go to RFK or listen to the game on the radio - and then lie awake all night waiting for The Post so I could read about it.
I saw Howard hit a batting practice home run at Baltimores Memorial Statdium that hit the scorebord. If the scorboard wasn't there it would have gone into the parking lot fair.
The OG Aaron Judge. Dude was a menace and the first of his time. Great video as always!
That’s a great comparison! Thanks for the comment and thank you for watching.
Frank was a great hitter and I didn't realize that he started his career with the Dodgers and ended it with the Tigers.
He was knee shot at the end & barely hit over 10 homers with Detroit in '73 as the DH. Went down quick after 1971 & hit only 22 homers combined over his final 2 years. Still surprised he never won an MVP.
My childhood hero!!!! Brings back great memories of going to the ball park with my dad. Thank you for making this video.
I appreciate your kind words. Thanks for watching.
RIP to the Washington Monument, Hondo and the Capital Punisher.
As a Dodger fan since 1967, it's great to see a Frank Howard video. When Frank hit 44 home runs in 1968, then 48 and 44 the next two seasons, I was bummed when I found out the Dodgers traded Howard after the 1964 season.🥵 In 1968, the Dodgers leading home run hitter hit 10 home runs, while Frank hit 44. Frank had to be taller than 6'7''. In 1968, Frank hit 10 home runs in a six game stretch.
I remember going under the LF stands at Met Stadium and feeling amazed when looking through the fence at this giant playing for the Senators. Years later he was coaching for the Tigers, and during batting practice a line drive buzzed right past his head. He didn’t even flinch.
FRANK HOWARD....THE GENTLE GIANT...
I worked as an usher at RFK stadium in 1969 and really enjoyed watching Howard play the game. But I have to say, as dynamic a hitter as he was, the biggest applause I remember him getting was when on a hot night, Howard was on first, saw something in the pitcher (can't remember who it was) and took off for second base on a pitch. The crowd arose, Howard slid - SAFE!! the crowd erupted as though the Senators had won the world series. I'll never forget it.
Wow, Frank stole only 8 bases in his entire career, and you witnessed one of them! That’s awesome. Thanks for the comment, and thank you for watching.
Awesome video. It's nice to see Frank get some love for once.
Thank you for your kind words. I hope this video will be a testament to how great of a ball player he was. Thanks for the comment, and thank you for watching.
As a Yankees fan I saw a lot of this big guy when he played for the Washington Senators. I also remember him as an LA Dodgers
saw Frank at West Palm in 1992 Braves spring training game - along with Kubek and Steinbrenner .......Frank was even bigger in person .RIP slugger !
I always liked Frank, the big guy with the wholesome round face and glasses that looked like he was a chemistry teacher. He didn't rely on flash or cool, like Mantle. Just great skill.
He did look like he could teach a science class. I guess if you didn’t know him, you wouldn’t know that he could hit a ball a country mile! Thanks for the comment and thank you for watching.
Rest in peace Frank Howard. And may he get into the baseball Hall of Fame!
Hall of very good.
I remember seeing him in a double-header against the White Sox. 1968 or 1969. He was much bigger than other players. Hit a HR in each game. A highlight to see him.
Connie Mack Stadium also known as Shibe Park. A home run there was a pretty good shot!
It sure was! Thanks for the comment and thank you for watching.
I remember watching Frank Howard he was a dangerous hitter that held the like a tooth pick as Phil Rizzuto said!
Man did he hit some long Home Runs!
He sure did!
If Hondo Howard was playing in today's band boxes no telling on many home runs he would hit. He was a bigger than life figure. From all accounts he might have hit the baseball harder then any human being, ever. He would hit screaming line drives, that would rise. The capital punisher indeed....
Howard would wheel the bat like a toothpick.
Big Frank hit 2 HR’s in the first MLB game I ever attended on 8/22/1970. That made the difference, as the Senators beat the Twins 5-4 in Bloomington, MN.
Very interesting, Denny. Thanks for the comment and thank you for watching.
I had to look up the box score. Harmon Killebrew hit one out of the park in that game, too. Like Frank, Killer was strong as an ox and launched a lot of tape measure bombs.
Nobody, and I mean NOBODY ever looked as menacing swinging the bat as Frank Howard. He looked like he was going to launch a ball out of the park on every at bat. A teammate once said he hit a line drive home run so hard that by the time the outfielder had taken two steps, the ball had bounced off the back of the seat in the left field stands.....
I think I can honestly say, for me as a kid and many others from 1960's and early 1970's. growing up in the Washington DC suburbs in Oxon Hill Md. Frank Howard was our hero and we all wanted any baseball card that bared his name.
He is a good role model!
I grew up in Long Beach and was a big fan of frank. I wish the Dodgers would have kept him
You have a very recognizeable LB surname. Wilson High? Alot of bigname players came outta Wilson.
Me too, I wish the Dodgers hadn't traded Frank Howard.
One of my all-time favs. I remember a commercial he was in, but can’t remember what was advertised. It was a chocolate drink or something. In the commercial he hit a ball into the (empty ballpark) stands. I remember being super excited when my team, the Tigers traded for him for the ‘72 pennant run, not really being aware of how little he had left in the tank at that point. I’m pretty sure he was the first base coach in some of those games. Billy Martin must have liked his presence.
Thanks for the video!
Thank you for your kind words. I believe the commercial you are referring to is this one (th-cam.com/video/8KPd6gjBIME/w-d-xo.html). Thanks for the comment, and thank you for watching.
@@beauboone5332 yep, that’s the one! Check out the size of that “W” on the helmet!
Even as a Tiger fan, I always enjoyed watching Frank come to bat. You just knew you might see him launch one into space. And I did get to see it once. When he was with the Senators, they played in Detroit, and in one at bat, Howard put on in the upper deck in left field at Tiger Stadium. The remarkable thing about was, he did it with one arm. I believe the pitch was outside, and he leaned into it just using his left arm to swing. Ball began as a line drive, but you could see it gaining altitude till it landed in upper left field. What a treat. And he is also one of the few to hit a ball over the left field roof in Detroit.
I bet he hit several 500+ ft homers. Too bad it was before all the technology we have today.
Aah yes good old Frank Howard a tall drink of water. I grew up in D.C. and used to go to RFK for some double headers. I went to Milwaukee with my cousin to see a Brewers game and Frank was 3rd base coach at the time so I was able to yuck it up with him before the game started. I'll never forget his ten homeruns in 7 games.1968. I watched everyone of them his tenth homerun was at Tiger stadium cleared the roof I remember Al Kaline was another.
Ted Williams had nothing but praise for Big Hondo...as a man as much as a player. One of my very favorite opponents when I went to Yankee Stadium as a youth.
As a kid and Dodger fan in the early 60's, I heard Vin Scully recount what he said was "the furthest home run I have ever seen, and probably never will see again" off the bat of Frank Howard. I vividly recall Vin saying it happened at County Stadium, Milwaukee, and Frank was up against a knuckleballer, I'm guessing somewhere in the years between '61 to '63. The pitch fooled Frank so completely, he let go of the bat with his right hand, and swinging only with his left. Vin said the Braves shortstop told him later he only heard a loud crack, and a buzzing sound wizzing past his head, and that had he even tried to catch it it would have ended his career. The ball began as a low line drive, steadily gaining height as it went over the left-center bleachers, and out of the park into the parking lot. Later estimates based on witness approximations of the ball's landing spot initially put the distance at 600'. Later experts on MLB home runs claim the shot was impossible, and could have not been physically possible. I heard Vin Scully tell the story twice on old KFI(?) radio in Los Angeles in the old L.A. Dodger days. It was either the L.A. Times or our local Long Beach Telegram sports section placing Frank's shot on its front page, calling it "The Shot Heard Round the World" with a very cool graphic, as I recall. I kick myself for not saving the paper. Frank Howard was my boyhood hero.
I grew up in Silver Spring, MD, in the late 50's/early 60's, and worshiped the lowly Senators. There were not too many heroes on those teams. Frank Howard was my favorite, followed by a pitcher named Tom Chaney. Chaney set a record for strikeouts in a game (I think it was 23; but it took him more than 9 innings to get there). Frank set a record by hitting 10 HRs in six games...I'm pretty sure no one has done that since.
It was 21 strikeouts, but your correct it was a record! Thanks for the comment. and thank you for watching.
I still remember that week when it seemed like he hit 2 home runs every day
My Father told me a story of Frank Howard hitting a Home Run so Long, that the Pitcher Jesus Maria in PR Winter Baseball became a alcoholic 😂
Could have been an NBA Forward but decided to play baseball. He was an athlete.
He had tremendous athleticism and unbelievable strength. Thanks for the comment and thank you for watching.
@@beauboone5332 He was drafted in the NBA by the Philadelphia Warriors.
Great video and thanks for posting! I got to see a lot of Frank Howard here in NYC when he was coach and then briefly Manager of the Mets in 1983. You could see at Mets games he was motivating the then young Mets and encouraging them to have fun as they were turning things around. Later when he was a coach I saw him live at a Yankees game in 1987 and noticed between innings he would sprint from the dugout over to his spot in the 3rd base coaches box. He was still in great shape in his fifties and looked more like a retired US Marine! That night I also saw he and Dave Winfield having a convo on the field behind the cage before the game. Two multiple sport athletes just chatting. That night was a great memory. Again, great vid and thanks for putting this together!
Thank you for your kind words. Thanks for watching.
I can still remember the game against the Red Sox at Fenway Park when Frank Howard hit a homer over the "Green Monster"...WAYY over it. In fact, the ball hit the lights in one of the towers high above it and it was STILL rising when it did. I don't recall anyone ever matching that shot. That was about 50 years ago and I still remember it like it was yesterday.
Hondo played on our slow pitch softball team back in 19 and 98. He was around 60 year old but came out and played 1st base for us. God, the power in his swing. We failed to lose that year. Real nice feller.
That’s awesome. Thanks for sharing.
Just hear that Hondo passed away, RIP Frank Howard.
We lost a good one. May he rest in peace.
I was a huge Dodgers' fan in the early 60's and Frank was one of my favorite players! Thanks for a great video!
Thank you for your kind words. Thanks for watching.
Remember him hitting infield fungo pregame for the Brewers. He was amazing hitting foul pop ups for the catchers behind home plate higher than what they would see during a game.
Wow, very interesting that you could see Frank in action. Thanks for sharing, and thank you for watching.
Had a beer with him after a game when he was with the Brewers
Nicest guy you could ever meet
Very unassuming
He was a BIG man.
the first time I saw the white seats in the upper deck of RFK I couldn't believe anyone could hit a ball that far
If Frank was signed by the Orioles what a lineup that would have been with the Robinson's and Boog Powell it would have been unbelievable.
Just a what if.
Saw Frank play in AAA in Spokane, the Dodgers farm team, in '60 along with Willie Davis, Ron Fairly and others. I was standing directly behind the backstop and someone threw him a high fastball. He hit a laser shot over the centerfield wall some 410 ft. away. I have never seen a ball hit so hard.
Mom took me in January 1961 to winter league finals in Sixto Escobar stadium Howard hit one high and deep into the night, they measured 530’ never forget,I was 12
That’s awesome, and what a shot by Howard! Thank you for sharing, I hope you spent many great memories with your mother. Thank you for watching.
Frank hit a homer in the late 60's at Cleveland Municipal stadium the ball hit an empty bleacher seat and bounced back to the infield.
I remember him hitting one OUT of Wrigley field, his left hand (or was it right)actually came off the bat and it still went onto Waveland Ave., probably 450 ft.
13 year old me loved seeing Howard batting clean-up behind my hero Willie Horton. Summer of '72. Led Tigers to ALCS. Cleared LF roof at Tiger Stadium. RFGA, Ph.D.
He also known hitting home runs out the park ,saw one go over left field roof at tiger stadium 1968 ,he's one of 4 who have done that , Hondo
I remember Vin Scully calling Frank's massive moonshots when he hit them for the Dodgers. Too bad, they didn't have the technology back then to let us know how far he'd hit them. From Scully's calls,, it sounded like some of them eclipsed 500 feet.
I wonder the same thing. No doubt Frank hit some moonshots well over the 500 foot mark. Thanks for watching.
Too bad it took so long for teams to figute out how to use him. He could have easily gotten 500 home runs if coached properly. Powerful guy.
I saw him at the REAL Yankee Stadium hit one into the last row of the bleachers. Center field was 463 feet so it went close to 550 feet.
Frank Howard during his time was the most feared HR hitter in Baseball. Not in the HOF because of stats he was still thought of as great by his peers
In the 1960s, Hall of Famers Henry Aaron, Frank Robinson and Harmon Killebrew (among others) were much better power hitters than Frank ever was. But Frank was something. He could hit the ball as far as anybody, with some of his home runs exceeding 500 feet.
I grew up a Senators fan. They were always awful, but Frank Howard was my idol. I saw quite a few of his homers.
Do you remember Reising?
Thanks for sharing this very informative video.. I knew nothing about Frank Howard's life until now 🏀⚾
Thank you for your kind words. Thank you for watching.
I witnessed in the 60s at dodger stadium him hit 3 homeruns against Bob hendley of San Francisco he owned that guy
I remember Hondo as a Dodger and he was something. There is a true story about Frank Howard and I think it was when he was in an All Star game in St, Louis There was an green area by the Cardinal scoreboard in right center field in the cookie cutter old Busch Stadium and there was a row of small planted trees, Frank hit a line drive homer that hit that tree and it DIED from the shock. Jack Buck told that story and swore it was true.
Fun fact: Frank Howard and Ryan Howard both have the same career HR total with 382
8 grand for a new house in the 50's was pretty much the going rate & bet it's worth 400-500k today! Hondo was one fine ball player especially in the mid to late 60's who also went on to coach.
I can’t believe he is not in the HOF, very puzzling!
Two more good years would have given him at least 450 home runs and a good chance to make the Hall of Fame. Even one more good year would have given him more than 400 homers and a chance at the Hall of Fame.
In 1968 Frank Howard hit 10 home runs in 6 games, a home run tear never equaled.
Truly unbelievable. He was an amazing player. Thanks for the comment and thank you for watching.
10 home runs in 20 at bats.....will never happen again....ever!
I remember him with the Dodgers and the Senators. Remember when the Dodgers traded him to the Senators for Claude Osteen. Recall Bob Knight in an interview saying he was a very good basketball player. Ironically they both passed this week. RIH Big Frank and Coach Knight.
That was one of the best trades ever made because BOTH teams got exactly what they needed. Hondo blossomed into a superstar with the Senators and Osteen had several very good years with the Dodgers including helping them win the 1965 World Series.
Heard he was the nicest man also
A gentle giant!
Funny this got recommended to me, because a couple of weeks ago I was thinking about how old Hondo has kind of become the forgotten man of MLB.
It speaks volumes for Howard's abilities that he played much of his career in two of the worst parks for a hitter of his type, plus overcame injuries, yet managed 382 home runs.
Absolutely!
True old D.C. Stadium was not a very "pretty" baseball stadium. But, for football watching the Redskins was truly a thrilling kick!
And, yes tough on long distance hitters.
I was 12 in 1973. I remember Frank Howard but barely. I was a dodgers fan
And I had 3 older brothers who told me about him
I,met frank in 1997 he came in my bar working for a liquor company we sat at the bar for couple of hours frank was one of the nicest man I ever met told me so,many great stories about his life one of the greatest moments of my life God bless frank Howard
He loved his off season hustle with Jim Beam.
My dad passed on the legend of Frank Howard to me years ago
There is a story about a Frank Howard Home Run in the Sola Morales Stadium in Caguas, Puerto Rico, some fans present that day estimate the HR over 500ft. He was a legend there.
God bless Howard. Watching him play is etched in my memory.
There’s a statue of Hondo outside Nats Park and the Nats never issue 33.
He was number 9 until Ted Williams came in 69. I wish this video would have talked about the impact Ted had on his hitting. Before Ted he would swing at anything and get few walks. Ted convinced him that he would get a lot more good pitches once pitchers found out he was going to be more patient. In the same number of at bats as the year before Ted his average increased from about 274 to 296, hit the highest of his career 48 HRs, his runs went from 79-111 and his walks went from 54-102! Frank was the greatest!
What I remember about Frank Howard: When the Dodgers moved to LA, and play in the Coliseum, the left field distance down the line to the fence was 250 feet. Just hop away from a Little league fence, and also the distance for many softball fields. Everyone thought big Frank Howard was going to hit 80 home runs the first season. However, little left handed batter Wally Moon hit more HR's over that fence that 6' 7"inch Howard. Howevre, big Frank was a great athlete, and a gentleman.
You left one important detail, there was a net over 200’ high making a home run over 375’. I was a kid selling programs at those games and always waited after the game to see him he was a giant of a man to a twelve year old.
I saw him play. He was good one
He was so powerful that one time he checked his swing and the bat broke in half!
Very nice Beau! Thank you
Thank you for your kind words.
A shortstop ( I believe it was Tony Kubek), claimed Howard hit a home run, that Kubek actually tried to make a play on, but the ball sailed over his glove at short. The ball continued to rise and clear the wall.
I saw Frank Howard in dodger stadium hit three home runs in one game and the last one went through the triangle on the top of the left field foul pole!
Forever a South High Bulldog and Ohio State Buckeye, Frank was the batting coach for the Rays in the late 1990s early 2000s. I was in Tampa on business for Ohio State and made my way down to the Rays dugout and ask to meet the legend from my hometown. He soon appeared and when I told him I too was from the South End of Columbus his face lit up like a Christmas tree. We swapped a few stories and local landmarks and it was one of my biggest thrills to meet the friendly giant who gave baseball fans (and Buckeye basketball fan) many a thrill. Long live Hondo Howard and yes John Havlicek stole Frank’s nickname 😂😂😂.
I used to watch Frank Howard play with the Spokane Indians in 1959 and 1960 before being called up to the Dodgers.
I'll never forget a game when he was playing for the Senators against the Orioles and he got fooled by a change up and he swung, the bat slipping out of his bottom hand and he pulled the ball down the left field line with one hand and it cleared the fence for a homer. He also was famous for living in Green bay Wisconsin and in the winter going out in short sleeved shirts with no coat on to shovel snow.
He had tremendous strength. Thanks for the comment, and thank you for watching.
Short sleeves, shorts, and sandals.
We lived it and laughed. One of a kind.
@@mzh99 I am very sorry for your loss. My condolences to you and your family. Frank was a great man.
Howard being stuck with the dead-end Senators is the baseball equivalent of "capitol punishment." There, I've said it, or at least wrote it.
frank howard was probably the best player the nationals ever had.